Improvement in folding chairs



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. F. LIT TLE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Patented June 5, 1877.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. RI. LITTLE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 191,689; Patented June 5,1877.

".PETERS, PNOTO-LITMOGRPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN ELITTLE, or NORWICH, new YORK, AISSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND R. B. PRINDLE, 0F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specifidation forming part of Letters Patent No. [91,689, dated June 5, 1877 application filed February 28, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LITTLE, of Norwich, in the county of Ohenango and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs; and do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my chair arranged for storage. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same arranged for use; and Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections upon lines a; m and z z of Fig. 2.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of my invention is to increase the strength, durability, and efliciency of folding chairs; to which end it consists, principally, in the construction and combination of the pivoted side bars and arm, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in the combination of the pivoted bars and arms which compose each side of the chair, and are connected together by suitable rungs or rails with the rung that sustains the rear end of the seat, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, finally, in the chair as a whole, its several parts being combined to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the side rail, which forms the front leg and back of one side of my chair, and is formed longitudinally upon a double reverse curve.

At a point about one-third its length from the lower end of the rail A a second rail, B, which is also formed upon a double reverse curve, is pivoted at its longitudinal center to the inner face of said rail A, and at its lower rear end is pivoted to or upon a third rail, G, near the lower end of the latter.

The rail 0, which forms the rear leg of one side of my chair, extends in a double reverse curve upward and forward, and at its upper end is pivoted to or upon the lower side, near the longitudinal center of an arm, D, which arm extends rearward, and at its rear end is pivoted upon the outer side of the rail A.

As the rail B is placed upon the inner side of the rail A, and the rail 0 upon the outer side of the latter, it is necessary that a thimble or block, E, be placed between the lower end of said rail B and said rail 0, for the purpose of preserving the parallelism of their faces with the faces of said rail A.

The parts described form one side of my chair, and are connected with the opposite side by means of two or more slats, F, which extend between the upper portion of the rails A; a rung, G, that extends between the lower ends of said rails; a rung, H, which extends between the lower ends of the rails O a rung, I, that extends between said rails at a point upon a line horizontally with the upper ends of the rails B; and a rung, K, which extends between the latter immediately below their said upper ends.

The rungs I and K occupy substantially the same plane, and are employed as supports for a seat, L, which may be constructed of wood or flexible material.

When composed of wood, the rear end of the seat -L rests upon and is pivoted to the rung I, while its front end rests upon the upper ends of the rail B, and upon the rung K, while a metal strap, M, is secured at its ends to or upon the lower side of said seat, and, passing beneath each of said rungs, confines the former loosely upon said rung K, and pre' vents their separation while permitting said seat to slide over said rung when the chair is folded, as is hereinafter described.

When flexible material is used for the seat, the ends of the latter are wrapped around and secured to the rungs I and K in the usual manner.

The rung I is located directly in rear of the rails A, and upon the latter, immediately above said rung, is formeda shoulder, a, which extends rearward over and bears upon the same, and operates as a stop to prevent farther rearward and downward movement of said rails A.

As thus arranged, it will be seen that the weight thrown upon the rear portion of the seat is supported by the rails A and C, while such weight as is thrown upon the front por tion of said seat is sustained directly by said rail A and the rail B, and indirectly by said rail 0.

When not in use, the chair may be folded together, as shown in Fig. 1, the rails A, B, and C, and arm D, being nearly parallel, while the seat L is turned against the lower slat F of the back, in which relative positions said parts occupy but little space, and the chair may be easily arranged for storage or for use.

If desired, the lower ends of the rails B may be pivoted upon the rung H.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 18- 1. In a folding chair, the combination of the rails A and C, and the arm D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The rail A, provided with the shoulder a, the rails B and O, the slats F, and the rungs G, H, I, and K, and the seat L, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. The hereinbefore-described chair, consisting of the rails A, a, B, and (J, the arms D, the slats F, the rungs G, H, I, and K, and the seat L, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of February, 1877.

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE.

Witnesses R. B. PRINDLE, GEo. A. THOMAS. 

